Despite two collegiate basketball finals appearances in the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports, Cultural and Educational Association meet, the University of St. La Salle Stingers  hope  to enter this season’s finals but as an underdog.

Stingers’ head coach Eugene Opu-an said that though, they entered the NOPSSCEA finals twice in two consecutive years, the loss of his key players had left some holes in their  team.

The team will be playing this season without Rogie Gelasan, Marloni Gonzales, Allen Delagente, Nicos Cuenca, Ram-Ram Islawa and Eman Badillo.

Opu-an, who is on his third year as USLS mentor, said  USLS last won the NOPSSCEA crown in the late 1990’s under cach Ricky Dandan – currently with the University of the Philippines Maroons.

Opu-an said that as they  prepare for the upcoming NOPSSCEA games,  they  hold several tune-up matches against UAAP’s Adamson University as well as against University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and Colegio de San Agustin-Bacolod. They will also  participate in a commercial league in Zamboanga City on August 16-20 as part of their  preparation, he  added.

He also  said that,  aside from the defending champion West Negros University Mustangs, UNO-R Rams is one of the toughest teams to beat this season.

The Stingers will be bannered by Scott Salvacion, Rendell Bernales, Ralph Allen Dionela, Kevin Rey Villafranca, Arturo Cuaresma, Eman Sevilla, Jepe Denosta, Patrick Ybañez, Daryl Endona, Carl Antiporda, Dave Chuatico, Josef Villaroman, Jasper Villacampa and Gian Carlo Reyes.

His  assistant coach  is Philip Famucol.

On the 1st LNA7 Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament, Opu-an said that this is a good avenue for players’ exposure, personal development, team assessment and preparing their game plans against opponents.

The 1st LNA7 Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament unfolds tomorrow at the WNU gym at 3:30pm with UNO-R Rams and USLS Stingers playing the first game, followed by WNU Mustangs against CSA-B Eagles.*NAB

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